Pausology and Listening Comprehension: Theory, Research, and Practice

In this paper the investigation of temporal variables is presented as
an example of the type of research on microprocesses which can be
applied to actual language teaching. Such research is not derived
from a strong theoretical network (which all the evidence suggests
is unattainable) but it builds upon sound empirical work in L1
pausological studies and L2 input studies. A brief review of early L2
studies of temporal variables (mostly of NS-NNS speech rate)
indicates them to be methodologically flawed to the extent that their
findings must be discounted. A degree of optimism is, however,
found in the improved quality of recent studies, which are reviewed
in some detail. Particular attention is paid to studies which demonstrate
that listening comprehension can be facilitated by the manipulation
of temporal variables.